Apparatus for handling and coating containers



April 2, 1946. w. l. GLADFELTER ET AL v 2,397,733

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND COATING CONTAINERS Filed July ,14, 19458'Sheets-Sheet 1 Willie I 6W.

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w. GLADFELTER ET AL ,397,733

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND COATING CONTAINERS April 2, 1946.

8 SheetsSheet 2 Filed July 14, 1943 April 2, 1946. w. .1; GLADFELTER ETAL 2,397,733

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND COATING CONTAINERS K Filed July 14, 1945 8Sheets-Sheet 3 'April 2, 1946. w. l. GLADFELTER ET AL 2,397,733

I APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND COATING CONTAINERS Filed July 14, 1943. 8Sheets-Sheet 4 April 2, 1946. w. l. GLADFELTER ET AL 2,397,733

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND'COATING CONTAINERS Filed July 14, 1943 8Sheets-Sheet 5 Fi .5. g 9

gin/00mm Willie I Gian/ wen April 2, 1946. w. 1. GLADFELTER ET AL2,397,733

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND COATING CONTA INERS Filed July 14, 1943 Y aSheets-Shet s V L. lGladfltez:

v 0 n I April 2, 1946. w. l. GLADFELTER ET AL v APPARATUS FOR HANDLINGAND COATING CONTAINERS Filed July 14, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 April 2,1946. w. GLADFELTER ET AL 2,397,733

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND COATING CONTAINERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8v L {h a L77 A Patented Apr. 2, 1946 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND COATING-CONTAINERS Wiltie I. Gladfelter, Philadelphia, Pa., and William A.Schmidt, Chase, Md., assignors to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.,Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Application July 14, 1943,Serial No. 494,720

19 Claims.

, The present invention relates to apparatus for coating the interiorsof containers, such as beer cans, with liquid coating'material suchasheated wax compositions. The invention is concerned primarily withimproved constructions in the coating machine and in the devices forhandling a. line of containers prior to, during and after the actualcoating operation.

It is a primary object of the invention to simplify the article handlinginstrumentalities, and to eliminate a number of separate,independenthandling or transferring operations heretofore employed withapparatus designed for the same general purpose. V

In the coating of metallic containers with wax or the like, it has beenthe practice first to preheat the containers to a temperatureapproaching that of the liquid wax composition, to prevent chilling ofthe wax when it encounters the container walls, and to facilitate thedistribution of the coating material thereon. Further, it has been thepractice to drain the wax coating material from the interiors of thecans by conveying them, in inverted relation, through a drain oven,where the temperature of the containers 1 and of the coating material imaintained sufficiently high to permit the excess material to flow fromthe containers, leaving a thin coating on the walls thereof. Finally, ithas been the practies to distribute the coating material evenly upontemperature of the containers and the coating material is maintainedsufficiently high to permit a slight amount of wax composition to settlealong the line'of junction between the side walls and the bottom.

The present invention aims to provide improved article handling andconveying devices in 7 an organization of this general type.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction andoperation of the machine for coating the containers with wax, and toimprove the container handling devices associated therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide 1 improved means forrendering inoperative the coating instrumentalities associated with themachine when, for one reason or another, containers are not'present inproper relation to receive coating material therefrom.

with the drain oven conveyor.

station at the exit end of the drain oven, where the containers aretransferred to the settlin oven conveyor.

A further object of the invention is to simplify the delivery ofcontainers to the wax coating machine, and to avoid a transfer of thecontainers from holders or pockets associated with an infeeddevice toindependent holders in the coating machine. To this end, the inventionprovides means for delivering the containers to the holders associatedwith the aforementioned continuous conveyor at an infeed station beforethe holders enter the coating machine and immediately beyond theaforementioned transfer station.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved coatingmaterial projecting assemblies in the coating machine, adapted tocooperate in a novel manner with the container carried by the holdersassociated with the conveyor which is trained for movement through thecoating ma-' chine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novelarrangement ofcan feeler mechanism,

positioned to cooperate with the containers in the holders associatedwith the above mentioned conveyor, before the holders enter the coatingmachine, and to provide means responsive to the feeler mechanism forrendering the coating ma- Figure 2 is a plan view of the coating machineand certain of the associated instrumentalities.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the upper portion ofthe coating machine.

Figure 4 is a similar .view through the lower portion of the machine.

Figur 5 is a fragmentary plan view with certain parts broken away,showing the coating machine table and the mechanism for controlling theoperations of the coating. material projecting assemblies.

Figure 5a (Sheet 7) is a circuit diagram suitable for actuating themechanism shown in Figure 5.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Figure3.

Figure 7 is a similar fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 7-1.v v

Figure 8 is a similar fragmentaryhorizontal section taken on line 8-8.

portion of Figure 3, showingthe relation of parts when an empty canholder passes through the machine.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows the general redrain oven 38. The chain issupported in its travel along this horizontal path by carriages ortravelers having rollers engaging suitable tracks, as hereinafterexplained. The conveyor has a plurality of can holders 39 pivotallyconnected thereto for swinging movement through substantially 180 from aposition holding the containers in inverted, neck-down relation, to avertical, upright neck-up position. As the holders 39 move under thedial 215, they are held in horizontal position for the reception ofcontainers from the pockets in the dial. They swing downwardly to theinverted position immediately as they leave the dial and are held inthat position during their passage through the coating machine,

as they move around through a substantially semi-circular'path along theperiphery of the table. They emerge from the coating machine on the farside of the table, as viewed in Figure 1, and travel along the backrunof the conveyor 35, toward the right into the entrance end 40 of the waxdrain oven, being held in inverted relation in the holders during theirentire passage through the drain oven.

As the holders and the cans emerge from the exit end 38 ofthe drainoven, they are swung upwardly to a horizontal position, where they maypass through a neck-wiping apparatus, of the type shown in Patents Nos,2,295,576 and 2,295,575,

dated Sept. 15, 1942.

The holders and the containers therein are then swung from thehorizontal position upwardly to a vertical, neck-up position, as theyapproach the lation of the coating machine to the associated machines inthe container coating line. A container preheating oven l0, positionedat a relatively high level has a conveyor consisting of a pair of cablesI I trained therethrough and guidedabout a pair of sheaves I2 at thedeliver end. The cables are passed below guide rollers 13 and then abovesimilar rollers It, 15 to end sheaves l 6, about which they are trained,for return along a run ll, over guide rollers-l8 to the wax settling ordistributing oven l9, positioned at a lower level 3 below the preheatingoven l0 and preferably supported by a common frame 20. Thus it will beapparent that a single conveyor may be employed for the preheating ovenand the wax settling oven,

with an upper run in the former and a lower return run in the latter.

A twister chute 23 receives the containers from multaneously swings themfrom the vertical,

neck-up position to a substantially horizontal position, as indicated at25.

A vertically disposed dial-or star wheel 26, hav.-'

ing horizontally positioned peripheral pockets 2! is joumalled forrotation on a horizontal shaft 28 at the discharge end of the twister23, the shaft being supported by a frame 29 carried by posts 30supported from the floor 3|. The containers accumulate in substantiallya solid line in the twister 23 and are delivered one-by-one to thepockets in the dial for subsequent transfer to the combined coatingmachine and drain oven conveyor. 7

The latter conveyor preferably comprises a chain 35 trainedfor movement.along a horizontal path, about a sprocket 36 associated with therotatable table 37 of the coating machine and about a sprocket, notshown, at the far end of the wax 7 lower run ll of the cable conveyorleading to the wax settling oven. The holders position the uprightedcans above the run I! of the cable conveyor and the cans are depositedthereon in upright relation for movement through the wax settling oven.

The devices for clamping the containers in the holders 39 and the camtrack means for swin v ing these holders will be described moreparticularly as the specification proceeds.

The coating machine proper comprises a base 45 having a laterallyofisetportion 46 carrying a motor 41 and a speed reduction assembly 48, thesprocket 49 of which is connected by a chain 50 to a sprocket 5! on themotor shaft, A main driving shaft 52 projecting upwardly from the 50,

speed reducer 48 carries a pinion 53, in mesh with a pinion 54 on acounter shaft 55, servin as the main driving means for the machine, ashereinafter explained. It will be noted that the countershaft 55 isjournalled in bearings 56, 51 carried by the pedestal and that a piniongear 58 is fast upon its upper end.

The base 45 supports a pedestal casting to in which a stationary,vertically disposed column or shaft 6| is mounted. A plurality of struts62, B3 projecting upwardly and outwardly from the pedestal 60 areconnected integrally to an annular platform 64 upon which a steamheating radiator 65 is supported, by bosses 66 projecting upwardly Thehub portion 18 of the lower section of the table is provided with aplurality of circumferentially arranged vertical bores or sockets 14which are closed at their lower ends by an annular flange 16 of aninternally toothed ring gear 16, bolted to the undersurface 'of the hubmember 18, and in mesh with'the pinion 58 on the ing; skirt-like casing8| adapted to contain insulating material and projecting downwardly intothe space between the steam heater 66 and the upwardly projecting casingwall 68 of the stationary base.

The annular wall 18 of the reservoir carries an outwardly projectingcover or shield 83 for the inner portion of the reservoir, which may bemade up of a pluralit of sections appropriately secured together andsupported by pins 84, threaded into radial bores adjacent the upper endof the wall, the shield being provided with openings 85 for thereception of pump actuating rods hereinafter described.

The table 31 further comprises an upper section 86, journalled about thecolumn 6| and supported upon thrust bearing assemblies 81 carried by theupper end of a stationary sleeve 88 keyed to the central section of thecolumn 6 I. The upper table waxin the reservoir, a piston |I1 therein,urged upwardly by a coil compression spring H8, and

a conduit member II8 communicating at one end with the cylinder and atthe other end with a nozzle pipe I 28, bolted thereon. The pipe I28carries a nipple I2I having a coating material projecting tip I22 at itsupper end. Each assembl includes a pump actuator comprising a rod Y I25,having its lower end resting upon the piston II 'I and extendingupwardly through the aligned opening 85 in the shield plate 83. The rodextends upwardly through an opening I26 in the cam following frame 86and has an enlarged up,

per end I21 .disposed in a similarly enlarged bore in a sleeve memberI28 disposed in a vertical bore I28 in the cam follower- 86 andconstituting an enlarged continuation of the bore I26 therein.

' The head I21 of the rod I25 is normally seated section 86 has formedtherein a plurality of sets of vertical bores, each set comprising threebores 88, 8| and 82, centered onradial lines, as shown in Figures 2 and3; Each inner bore 88 is aligned with a corresponding bore 14 in thelower table section, and a vertical rod 83, secured therein,,

serves as a connecting means for the upper and lower table sections,rigidly securing them t0- gether for rotation as a unit. Further, arodfor shaft 84, fast in each bore 8|, bears firmly against a seat 85formed in the shield 83 above its line of connection with the inner wallI8 of the reservoir.

Each pair of rods 83, 84 constitute a vertical guiding means for avertically reciprocable cam following block or frame 86 having verticalbores 81, 88 embracing the rods and a cam following roller 88 disposedin a cam groove I88 formed in the periphery of a cam plate I8I, integralwith the sleeve 88, fast upon the column 6|. Hence,

against the bottom of the enlarged bore in the sleeve I28 by meansof arelativelyheavy coil spring I38 compressed under a transverse pin I3I.The upper end of the sleeve I28 is slidably mounted in the bore 82 inthe upper table section 86.

It will be apparent from a consideration of the parts so far describedthat the pump actuator, comprising the rod I25 and the sleeve I28, isreceived in and embraced by the cam following block 86 for relativesliding movement of the latter with respect to the former. In order thatmovement may be transmitted from the cam follower to the pump actuator,means are provided for normally connecting them together for movement inunison. As shown most clearly in Figure 5, each cam follower 86 has akeyway I33 cut in its side face, for the reception of a radiallyslidable key I34, having a relieved portion I35 clearing the guide rods83, 84 in both positions of the key. The relieved portion I35 clears thesleeve I28 and disconnects the-cam follower from the pump actuator whenthe key is in its radially outermost position, but when the key is movedas the table rotates, as hereinafter explained,

the cam following blocks or frames 86 are reciprocated vertically on therods 83, 84, lubricant being supplied by nipples I82, I83, communicatingthrough passages I84, I 85 with appropriate chambers in the bores 87,88.

The upper table section 86 also carries a sectional, annular sprocketplate I88, having a series of teeth I88 for engagement with the conveyorchain 85, hereinafter described, Another sectional ring or plate II8,mounted above the sprocket I88, receives and supports the rollerscarried by the carriages or travellers associated with the conveyorchain and can holders, to carry the weight of those elements and torelieve the sprocket 588 therefrom.

The lower table section, and more particularly the bottom 88 of the waxreservoir, carries a plurality of coating material projectingassemblies, one for each set of vertically extending rods and camfollowing frames 86. Each assembly comprises a pump cylinder II5 havingan intake slot H6 in its side wall, immersed in the hot liquid inwardly,its projecting edge engages an annular groove I36 in the periphery ofthe sleeve and effectively locks the cam follower to the pump actuatorassembly, so'that vertically reciprocating movement is imparted from theformer to the latter, to reciprocate the piston I I! and project heatedwax upwardly through the nozzle tip I22 into the interior of a canpositioned thereabove, under thecontrol of the cam groove I88. It willbe noted that the keys I34 are maintained in the keyways by engagementof their rear faces with the adjacent side faces of the adjacent camfollowing blocks or frames, as shown in Figure ,5.

In some cases it is desired to effect the connection between the camfollowing blocks and the pump actuators when the keys are in theirradially outermost positions instead of in their inner positions, asshown in Figure 5. may be effected by employing a set of keys of thetype shown in Figure 12, each comprising a 'relieved portion I35a fortheguide rods 83, 84,

driving engagement between the cam follower and the pump actuator.

The central cam plate I8I carries an upper, short, supplemental camsurface I38, positioned to be engaged by the inner end faces of the keysI34, so that each key is projected to its outermost This change I camI38 terminates in a steep. substantially radial shoulder I39 so thateach key I34 may be pro-v jected inwardly from the radially outermost tothe radially innermost position, to engage or disengage the pumpactuator, as the case may be;

depending upon the type of key employed. As shown in Figure 5, anexteriorly positioned cam surface I40, normally positioned in the pathof movement of the ends of the keys I34 serves to project them inwardlyto effect the desired connection between the cam followers and the pumpactuators. The'cam I40 projects from the lower end of a sleeve I4I,'mounted for oscillation upon a vertical shaft I42, supported from above,as hereinafter explained. At its upper end, the

I osition during each revolution of the table. The

wardly" facing strips I61, constituting track surv faces as hereinafterexplained.

sleeve carries a tail piece I43 having spaced stops I44, I45 embracing apin I46 to limit the oscillating movement of the sleeve and the cam I40,

under the influence of a spring I41 in one direc- I tion and a solenoidI48 in the other direction,

the solenoid is deenergized, however, the spring' I41 retracts the camI40, so that the keys I34 are left intheir outwardly projected,inoperative position, to which they were moved by the-stationary,central cam I38.

If keys of the type shown in Figure 12 are employed, the cam I40 will.be normally in the retracted position and the solenoid normallydeenergized, to the end that the keys will remain in their outwardlyprojected, operative position. When the solenoid is energized, however,the movable cam I40 will be projected into the path of movement of thekeys I34,- thereby moving them inwardly to the inoperative position.

After describing a preferred mechanism for supporting and conveying theline of cans, the device for controlling -the operation of the solenoidI48 and the movable cam I40 will be referred to. I

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 9, the central column 6| of the machinecarries a cap I55, clamped thereto and serving-as a support for alaterally extending channelv member I56, secured at its other end to thedrain oven or the supporting framework therefor, not shown. As

a point adjacent the periphery of the upper section of the rotatabletable, the channel member I56 carries a yoke or hanger I51 having apairof depending armsl58, I59 formed integrally The forwardly projecting armof thehanger I51 supports a pair of upwardly projecting guide I platesI68, I69, defining a channel forthe run I1 of the cable conveyor leadingto the wax settling oven.

The outer ends of the hanger also carrydepending brackets I10, I whichsupport a strip I12, extending along a, curved path, around theperiphery of the upper section of the wax coating machine in position toprevent .inadvertent outward swinging movement of the pivoted can holders 39 under the influence of centrifugal force.

Alternate links of the conveyor chain 36 carry a pair of upwardly anddownwardly projecting wings I15, to which travellers or carriages I16are secured, each carriage having a pair of supporting rollers I11journalled on inclined axes-at its upper end, riding along the trackrods I62. Vertically disposed rollers I18 carried by the chain pintles,are positioned to engage the guide strips I61 and prevent tipping f thecarriages relative to the tracks.

The can holders 39 comprise cradle members I80, pivoted tothe carriagesat I8I for swinging movement in a, vertical plane from an inverted,neck-down position, to an upright, neck-up position. Each cradle has aseat I82 for thebottom edge of the side wall of a container 200 and forthe double-seam 20I thereof, and a pair of wings I83 for engaging theside wall'adjacent the upper end. A clamping yoke member I84, pivoted tothe cradle at I86, has-a bifurcated end I86 shaped therewith and servingas supporting means for longitudinally extending tracks members I60,I61, in the form of channel sections, disposed in parallel relation andleading to and from the table of the coating machine, substantiallytangentially with respect thereto. These channel members extend from theperiphery of the table to the ends of the wax. drain oven, where theyare supported in any appropriate manner by the framework thereof.

As best shown in Figure 9, the upper flanges of the channel members I60,I6I carry track rods I 62, we1ded or otherwise secured thereto, whilethe lower fianges support horizontal plates I63 and strips I64, I65,defining a downwardly facing guide channel I66. The vertical webs of theto engage the conical end 203 of the container, to urge the same againstthe seat I82 under the influence of a tensionspring 181. The oppositeend of each clamp member I84 carries a roller I68, adapted to engage acam rail, toswing the clamp against the action of the spring I81 torelease the container at a predetermined time.

Each pivoted cradle member I also has a lat erally projecting arm I88,carrying a roller I90, disposed in the. channel I66 between thedownwardly projecting guide strips I64, I65, to maintain the can holderin predetermined position relative to the carriage I16. This roller I80engages a cam rail I9I at predetermined times to swing the cradle fromthe neck/down position, upwardly to a horizontal position and then tothe vertical, neck-up position for transfer of the container to theconveyor leading to the wax settling oven.

Reference is made to the copending application of Gladfelter andEhrlich, Serial No. 405,866, filed August 7, 1941, for a completedescription of a similar, though specifically different, can holderassembly.

The depending bracket I10 carried by the forwardly projecting arm of thehanger I51 has secured thereto a rearwardly projecting angle iron 205carrying the can feeler mechanism, which controls the operation of thesolenoid I48. As

thereto by screws 209 disposed in slots 2I0, so that the plate may belongitudinally adjusted throughpredetermined limits. 'The lever 201carries: an upwardly projecting finger 2II,

adapted to engage a button 2I2 ofa micro switch 2I8, mounted upon thehorizontal flange of the angle iron 205.

channel members I60, I6I similarly carry out- 15 The finger 2II isnormally held out of contact I run of the conveyor II.

aromas .tween the finger and the switch casing 2I3, swings the feelerplate 208, the lever 20'! and the finger 2H inwardly into contact withthe button 2I2,

thereby either opening or closing the circuit leading to the solenoidI48, dependirg upon whether a normally closed micro switch and circuit,as shown in Figure 5a, are employed, or a normally open micro switch,and circuit, as shown in Figure 12a, which, in turn, depends upon theuse of locking keys of the types shown in Figure 5 or Figure 12. In anyevent, when the switch 2I3 is actuated by an empty holder passing the'feeler plate 206, the movable cam I40 is shifted by the solenoid or bythe spring I 41 to a position such that the key associated with thecorresponding coating'material projecting assembly isprojected to, orremains in, the inoperative position, to the end that, when thatparticular assembly joins the empty can holder, the cam following blockor frame 96 associated therewith is free to reciprocate vertically,without transmitting corresponding movement to the pump actuating rod I25 and the piston I I1, ,as shown in Figure 13.

The table of the coating machine is driven at predetermined speed by thespeed reducer 48, acting through gears 53, 54, shaft 55 and pinion 58,in mesh with the large, internal ring gear I6. The conveyor II,.trainedthrough the preheating oven I0 and the wax settling oven I9, is drivenby independent means at a speed correlated with the speed of movement ofthe wax coating machine table and the conveyor 35, driven thereby. It isimportant that the infeed dial 26, which receives the containers fromthe chute or twister 23 and delivers the same to the holders associatedconnected by a chain 22I to another sprocket 222 fast on a verticalshaft 223, geared to the horizontal shaft 28 by bevel gears, not shown,in a casing 224 carried by a bracket 225, mounted on the upper ends ofthe supporting rods 30.

Hence, the dial 26, fast on the shaft 28, is driven at a peripheralspeed corresponding to the speed of movement of the conveyor chain 35.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus described above willbe apparent from a consideration of this specification. A line ofcontainers, such as the beer cans 200, are carried through thepreheating oven I0 in upright relation and emerged therefrom on theupper The conveyor drops downwardly below the lower rails of the twister23, leaving the containers supported thereon. The containers move downthe twister under the influence of gravity and are tipped forwardly, asviewed in Figure 1, from an upright position to a. horizontal positionadjacent the lower end thereof. They are picked up, one by one, by thepockets 2! in the vertical dial 26 and are delivered therefrom inhorizontal relation to the holders 39 associated with the conveyor chain35, as the holders pass beneath the dial in horizontal position. themovements of the dial and the conerative position.

veyor chain 35 being timed so that the holders and pockets registerbelow the dial.

The holders swing downwardly to the. vertical,- inverted position asthey leave the dial and, in the latter position, pass the feeler 208. Solong as the feeler engages the cans, the switch 2I3 remains closed andthe solenoid I46 is energized, thereby maintaining the movable cam I40in the, path of movement of the keys I34 and projecting the latterinwardly to the operative position, connecting the cam following blocks96 with the pump actuating rods 93. Hence, as the cans pass around themachine in the holders 39, a stream of wax is projected upwardly throughthe nozzle tips I22 into the interiors of the cans. A major portion ofthe excess wax drains back into the reservoir, while the remainder,except 4 for the desired thin coating, drains therefrom as thecontainers pass in inverted position through the wax drain oven.

If one or more holders fail to receive cans from the dial 26, so thatthey are empty as they pass the feeler. 208, the latter is movedinwardly under the influence of the spring 2, thereby contacting thebutton M2 and opening the switch 213, which, in this arrangement is anormally closed switch, as indicated in Figure 5a. The solenoid I48 isimmediately deenergized and the movable cam I40 is shifted by the springI 41, out of the path of movement of the keys I34, so that the keys areleft in their outwardlyprojected, inop- The feeler and the movable camare so positioned that they operate upon corresponding can holders andcoating material projecting assemblies. That is to say, the holderdisposed opposite the feeler at any particular instant will ultimatelybe combined in the machine with the projecting assembly which at thatinstant is disposed opposite the cam I40. Hence, the coating materialprojecting assembly corresponding to an empty holder will be renderedinoperative by the disconnection of the cam following block 96 from thepump actuating rod I25, and coating material will not be projectedupwardly when the holder therea'bove is empty.

If a key of the type shown in Figure 12 is employed, the movable cam I40is normally maintained in the retracted position, out of the path ofmovement of the keys. However, when an emptyholder is presented to thefeeler 206, the normally open switch, used in this arrangement, as shownin Figure 12a, will be closed, thereby energizing the solenoid andswinging the cam I40 by a cam rail engaging the rollers I88, therebyreleasing the cans from the holders and permitting the same to becarried away by the cable conveyor.

The containers pass through the wax settling oven in upright, neck-upposition, where they are walls of the containers and more particularlyto accumulate along the line of junction between the side walls and thebottom end members, to seal the double seam.

Although the invention has been described with considerableparticularity by reference to the embodiments disclosed in theaccompanying drawings, it must be understood that it is not .foroperating said member upon rotation of the table, and means forrendering the member inoperative when no can is present in theassociated holder.

2. A machine for coating the interiors of cans with a liquid coatingmaterial, comprising a rotatable table, a plurality of holdersassociated therewith adapted to support cans in inverted, neck-downposition, a plurality of upwardly directed coating material nozzlesbelow the cans, a pump associated with each nozzle and including arelatively stationary cylinder and a vertically movable piston, a pistonactuatingrod for each piston, a vertically reciprocable member adjacenteach rod carried by the table, cam means for reciprocating the member asthe table rotates, and means for establishing operative connectionbetween the member and the rod when a container is present in theassociated bracket.

3. A machine in accordance with claim 2 characterized by the inclusionof means for shiftin said connecting means to an inoperative position inthe absence of a can in the associated bracket.

4. A can coating machine comprising a rotatable table, vertically fixedcan holding means associated therewith for supporting a plurality ofcans at a fixed elevation with respect to the table in neck-downposition, a plurality of coating material projecting assemblies carriedby the table, a stationary cam for actuating said assemblies as thetable rotates, and means for controlling the operation of saidassemblies, each assembly comprising a nozzle fixed with respect to thetable, a pump connected thereto, a pump actuating rod, a reciprocablecam following member operatively associated with said cam, and movableconnecting means for establishing a driving connection between themember and the rod in one position and for breaking said connection inanother position, said controlling means comprising a shiftable cam forcontrolling the position of said movable connecting means, dependingupon the presence or absence of cans in the can holding'means.

5. A can coating machine comprising a rotatable table, vertically fixedcan holding means as-' sociated therewith for supporting. a plurality ofcans at a fixed elevation with respect to the table in neck-downposition, a plurality of coating material projecting assemblies carriedby the table, a stationary cam for actuating the assemblies as the tablerotates, and means for controlling the operation of said assemblies,each assembly comprising a relatively fixed, upwardly projecting nozzlealigned with the can in the associated holder, a pump connected to andpositioned laterally with respect to the nozzle, an upwardly extendingpump actuator rod, a reciprocable cam following member operativelyassociated with said cam and having a vertical bore embracing theactuator,

and movable connecting means carried by the member for establishing adriving connection between the member and the actuator in one positionand for breaking said connection in another position, said controllingmeans comprising means actuated by the presence or absence of cans inslidably embracing the actuator, and a key car-,

ried by the member for establishing driving connection with the actuatorin one position and for disconnecting the same in another position, saidcontrolling means comprising means for shifting the postions of thekeys, depending upon the presence or absence of cans in the holdingmeans.

7. A can coating machine comprising a rotatable table, can holding meansthereon for supporting a plurality of cans in vertically fixed,neck-down position, a plurality'of coating material projectingassemblies carried by the table and means for controlling the operationof said assemblies, each assembly comprising a relatively fixed nozzle,a pump connected thereto, a vertically extending pump actuator having atransverse key-way therein, a vertically reciprocable member slidablyembracing the actuator and a movable key carried by the member having aportion adapted to enter said key-way to establish driving connectionwith the actuator in one position and having a relieved portion adaptedin another position of the key to disconnect the member from theactuator, said controlling means comprising means for shifting thepositions of I the keys, depending upon the presence or absence of cansin the holding means.

8. A can coating machine comprising a rotatable table, can holding meansthereon for supporting a plurality of cans in vertically fixed,neck-down position, a plurality of coating material projectingassemblies carried'by the table and means for controlling the operationof said assemblies, each assembly comprising a relatively fixed nozzle,a pump connected thereto, a vertically extending pump actuator having atransverse key-way therein, a vertically reciprocable member slidablymbracing the actuator and a key carried by the member for radial slidingmovement between inner and outer positions, said key having a portionadapted to enter the keyway in one position to establish drivingconnection with the acuator and in the other position to disconnect thesame, said controlling means comprising means for shifting the radialpositions of the keys depending upon the presence or absence of the cansin the holding means.

9. A can coating machine comprising a rotatable table, can holding meansthereon for supporting a' plurality of cans in neck-down position,

assay-r se actuating the assemblies as the table rotates, and

means for controlling the operation of said as semblies', each assemblycomprising 'a relatively fixed, upwardly projecting nozzle, a pumpconnected thereto, a verticallyextending pump ac-- tuator, a verticallyreciprocable camfollowing member operatively associated with said camand slidably surrounding said actuator, and a radially moving keycarried-by'the member for establishing driving connection with saidactuator in one position and for breaking said connection in anotherpostion, said controllng means comprising a second stationary camadapted to project each tionary, substantially vertical column, a tablejournalled for rotation thereon and comprising a lower section having areservoir therein and an upper section having a plurality of can holderssupported thereon, means spaced outwardly from said column connectingthe upper and lower sections for movementin unison, a stationary cam onthe column opposite said means, a plurality of vertically movable camfollowing frames slidably mounted on said means and engaging saidstationary cam, a plurality of coating pumps and nozzles communicatingwith the reservoir and carried by the lower section, and means foractuating the pumps, each of said means comprising an actuator slidablydisposed in the associated frame, and means for operativeiy connectingthe frame to the actuator, whereby movement is transmitted thereto.

11. A can coating machine comprising a stationary, substantiallyverticalv column, a table a lower section having a reservoir therein andan upper section having a plurality of can holders supported. thereon,means spaced outwardly from said column connecting the upper and lowersections for movement in unison, a stationary cam on the column oppositesaid means, a plu rality of vertical movable cam following framesslidably mounted on said means and engaging said stationary cam, aplurality of coating pumps and nozzles communicating with the reservoirand carried by the lower section, and means for actuating the pumps,each of said means comprising an actuator slidably disposed in theassociated frame, means for operatively connecting the frame to theactuator, whereby movement is transmitted thereto, and means fordisconnecting the frame from the actuator in the absence of a can in theassociated holder, whereby movement is not transmitted from, the frameto the pump actuator when no can is in position to receive coatingmaterial from the pump and the nozzle.

12. A can coating machine comprising a stationary, substantiallyvertical column, a table journalled for rotation thereon and comprisinga lower section having a reservoir therein and an upper section having aplurality of can holders supported thereon and restrained againstrelative vertical movement with respect thereto, a

plurality of pairs of rods spaced outwardly from said column andconnecting the upper and lower sections for movement in unison, astationary cam on the column opposite said rods, a plurality ofvertically movable cam following frames slidably mounted on said pairsof rods and engag ing said stationary cam, a plurality ofcoating pumpsand nozzles aligned with the can holders and carried by the lowersection, and means for actuating the pumps, each of said meansvcomprising a pump actuating rod slidably disposed in the associated camfollowing frame, means for operatively connecting the frame to theactuating rod, whereby movement is transmitted thereto, and means 'fordisconnecting the frame from the actuating rod in the absence of a camin the associated holder, whereby movement is not;

transmitted from the frame to the rod when no can is in position toreceive coating material from the pump and the nozzle.

13. A machine for coating the interiors of cans with a liquid coatingmaterial, comprising a rox-tatable table, a plurality of can holdersmovable with the table in vertically fixed postion thereon forsupporting the cans in inverted relation, a plurality of upwardlyprojecting nozzles carried by the table, fixed with respect thereto andterminating immediately below the lower ends of the cans in the holders,an independent pump communicating with each nozzle, a verticallyreciprocating member associated with each pump,

means for connecting the member to the pump to actuate the latter when acan is present in the associated holder, and means for disconnecting thepump from the member in the absence of a can in'the holder.

14. In combination, a machine for coating the interiors of cans withwax, an endless chain having a plurality of can holders thereon trainedfor movement through said machine and through journalled for rotationthereon and comprising a path remote therefrom, and control means forthe coating machine, said machine comprising a plurality of coatingmaterial projecting assemblies movable with the can holders on the chainand aligned therewith as the holders travel through the machine, saidcontrol means comprising a can feeler disposed adjacent the chain at apoint spaced from the coating machine, means. for displacing the feelerwhen an empty can holder on the chain is presented thereto, and meansactuated by the displacement of the feeler for rendering inoperative thecoating material projecting assembly which subsequently is aligned andtravels with the empty holder.

15, An apparatus for coating the interiors of cans comprising arotatable table, a conveyor having an infeed run leading toward thetable and a peripheral run trained about a portion of the table, aplurality of can holders carried by the conveyor, a plurality of coatingmaterial projecting assemblies carried by the table for movement along acircular path in position to cooperate with the holders to coat theinteriors of the cans while the holders and the cans travel through saidperipheral run, means adjacent the circular path of movement of theassociated assemblies but positioned in advance. of the peripheral runof the holders for selectively rendering the assemblies inoperative,acan feeler disposed adjacent the infeed run of the conveyor, means fordisplacing the feeler when an empty holder is presented thereto andmeans actuated by the parallel tracks leading toward and from the table,a conveyor supported by said tracks and trained about the table, aplurality of can holders carried by the conveyor, a plurality of coatingmaterial projecting assemblies on the table in posiwhen an empty canholder approaching the table is presented thereto, and means actuated bythe displacement of the feeler for actuating the first-mentioned means,to render inoperative the assembly which is subsequently positioned incooperative relation with the empty holder.

17. An apparatus for coating the interiors of cans, comprising arotatable table, a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel tracksleading toward and from the table, supporting means for the ends of thetracks adjacent the table, a conveyor trained for movement along saidtracks and along a peripheral path around the opposite side of thetable, a plurality of can holders carried by the conveyor, a pluralityof coating material projecting assemblies carried by tle table inposition to cooperate with the holders as the latter move along saidperipheral path, means carried by said track supporting means adjacentthe table and ahead of said peripheral path for selectively renderingthe assemblies inoperative,

terial projecting assemblies inoperative.

a can feeler, adjacent the track leading toward the table and positionedahead of the table, means for displacing the feeler when an empty canholder is approaching the table, and means 19. Apparatus in accordancewith claim 15,

characterized in that the feeler comprises an electric switch normallyheld closed by a series j of cans in the holders and means for openingthe switch when an empty holder is presented, and in that the means forrendering the coating material assemblies inoperative comprises amovable cam, a solenoid energized by said switch for projecting the caminto an inoperative position and a spring for projecting said cam into aposition to operate said means when the solenoid is deenergized. V

WILTIE I. GLADFELTER. WILLIAM A. SCHMIDT.

